If you have heard and are concerned about the recent increase in cases of Acute Flaccid Myelitis, a polio-like virus that largely affects those under 18 years of age, we encourage you to educate yourself on the symptoms and facts surrounding the condition.  While the condition is not new and impacts less than one million people in the US each year, the increase in cases in recent years is a cause for attention.

Key facts

Symptoms

Seek medical care right away if you or your child develops any of the following symptoms:

• arm or leg weakness and loss of muscle tone and reflexes
• facial droop/weakness
• difficulty moving the eyes
• drooping eyelids
• difficulty with swallowing or slurred speech

Prevention

While there are no specific ways to prevent most cases of AFM, the CDC recommends the following actions (since poliovirus and West Nile virus can sometimes cause AFM):

• Be up to date on your polio vaccination
• Protect yourself from mosquito-borne viruses, such as West Nile virus, by using mosquito repellent, staying indoors at dusk and dawn, which is the prime period that mosquitoes bite, and removing standing or stagnant water near your home (where mosquitoes can breed).
• Washing your hands often is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to other people. (It is not known if effective in preventing AFM, but never a bad idea.)

Learn more at CDC.gov

Melissa Woodhouse has a knack for fixing things, and for making good things even better.

Perhaps it’s her original training as an Occupational Therapist (OT), a field dedicated to returning patients to their activities of daily living after an injury or illness. It requires intelligence, insight, creativity, patience, ingenuity, persistence and, of course, a positive outlook.

These traits have served Melissa well as an OT, and have been employed and enjoyed en route to her current RVNAhealth role, Director of HomeCare and Client Services.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I grew up in Brookfield, CT and moved back six years ago!

What is your role at RVNA?
Director of HomeCare and Client Services. I oversee RVNA’s private caregiver company and centralized care coordination team (also know as ‘intake’). Together we ensure that clients receive care from one of our many service lines at RVNA.

How long have you been at RVNA?
Almost five years.

When brought you here?
I began working in home health as an Occupational Therapist, where I got to treat the most amazing patients in their homes.

What is your favorite part of your job?
Getting to interact with clients, families, and caregivers.

When did you originally decide to become an OT?
After working many years as a Respiratory Therapist, I decided I wanted to pursue a career that furthered my ability to help change the lives of those who recently suffered an illness or injury.

How does your prior experience inform your new position?
It allows me to understand where clients are coming from, train caregivers how to manage clients, and ensure that our clients can age at home safely.

What do you love to do when you’re not working?
Go hiking or camping with my two daughters and husband. We love the outdoors!

What is your hidden talent?
Art — I love any and everything art related! Painting, drawing, or doing crafts with my kids.

What would you do if you won the lottery?
Buy a house on a lake in the Adirondacks!

Do you have a favorite RVNAhealth moment or story?
Getting to watch Nick Depuy and Barbie Tatum perform at the Autumn Dinner this year as a tribute to his late mom and my former patient. It’s something I’ll never forget. This event brings so many wonderful RVNA supporters together and is an amazing reminder of how many lives the RVNAhealth impacts.

Not everybody likes a pop quiz, right?

On the morning of Wednesday, September 19, RVNA had a surprise visitor at our HomeCare by RVNA doors: the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP). Stopping by for a random audit.

While not every agency is happy to see the DCP — just ask the auditors — RVNAhealth welcomed them with open arms. “We have confidence in our systems and processes,” says Theresa Santoro, RVNAhealth President and CEO, “and we’re always looking to refine and improve. If the DCP auditors can help us do that, even better.”

The two auditors, a special investigator and an inspection aide, stayed on site for approximately three hours, reviewing client care records, personnel files, human resources processes, billing samples, our client service agreement, and contracts. The DCP’s assessment: RVNAhealth passed with flying colors.

“RVNAhealth prides ourselves on the rigor and excellence of our processes, hiring, and service,” says Santoro, “So getting great marks from a ‘governing body’ who reviews the entire non-medical community is especially meaningful. We’re proud to share the news and look forward to their next random visit.”

Not everybody likes a pop quiz …. but RVNAhealth does.

To learn more, call 203-438-5555.

RVNAhealth is thrilled to announce that current RVNAhealth team member Melissa Woodhouse, RRT, MOT, OTR/L, CDP, has been promoted to Director of HomeCare and Client Services. HomeCare by RVNA is the agency’s non-medical service line, offering live-in and hourly caregivers to help clients with household tasks and personal care.

In her new role, Woodhouse will be responsible for the overall direction and management of the HomeCare service while continuing to be responsible for the Centralized Care Coordination team.

“Our HomeCare clients and caregivers are very important to us,” says Theresa Santoro, RVNAhealth president and CEO, “and our knowledge of, and experience with, Melissa gives us great confidence about the future of this service and the quality of care and service we offer to our clients.”

Woodhouse joined RVNAhealth in 2014 as an occupational therapist, arriving with several years of experience as both a respiratory and occupational therapist in sites as varied as hospital emergency rooms, rehab facilities, patient homes, and — of course — the Life Star critical care helicopter out of Hartford Hospital.

Woodhouse was promoted to Rehab Manager in 2016 and assumed management of the centralized care coordination department in early 2018. The care coordination team is responsible for giving RVNA patients and clients the help and guidance they need — right from the first phone call, or as soon as they walk in the door.

Melissa brings a depth of clinical, management, and customer service skills to her work, as well as an adept and creative problem-solving ability, a strength she honed working one-on-one with patients in their homes, helping them return to their activities of daily living.

Melissa’s familiarity with the RVNAhealth organization, approach and commitment to excellence means she will hit the ground running in her new position. She officially assumed the role on Monday, October 1.

Woodhouse holds a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy and a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences, both from Quinnipiac University in Hamden CT. Woodhouse also holds an associate’s degree in Respiratory Therapy.

“I truly love patient and client contact and helping patients get the help they need on every level,” says Woodhouse. “I have relished and learned from all of my roles at RVNA, from being an in-home occupational therapist, to Rehab Manager, and most recently re-constructing the care coordination team. I understand the excellence that our clients expect and require, and I am committed to delivering that in our HomeCare offering.”

Woodhouse grew up in Brookfield, CT and Is raising her own family there as well. Melissa and her husband, Ben, a Physician Assistant, have two daughters, Brooke, 4, and Charlotte, 2.

To learn more about Melissa Woodhouse or HomeCare by RVNA, please call 203-438-5555.

Kelly Klein has always been drawn to helping others – both people and their furry friends. It’s completely fitting that she landed on our door step in the Human Resources department, where helping RVNAhealth staff members is central to what she does. She’s a support to employees from the moment they walk in the door, a cheerleader, and a voice of reason. Kelly works tirelessly to build the strength of our RVNAhealth team and help us define who we are as an organization. Simply put, we couldn’t do what we do without her. No wonder RVNAhealth was recently named a Top Workplace for the 7^th time! Here’s a little more about one of the forces behind our excellent staff.

Where did you grow up? Where do you reside now?
I grew up in Boca Raton Florida. From there I moved to Maryland for high school, went to college in Delaware, then moved to NYC. So pretty much the East Coast.

What brought you to RVNA?
After moving to Ridgefield two years ago, I heard great things about RVNA’s community initiatives. I wanted to work here, so I applied!

Describe your role at RVNA?
Human Resources encompasses the entire employee “life cycle,” including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, employee orientation and engagement, performance management, and employee departures.

How long have you worked here?
11 months.

What is your favorite part of your job?
Knowing I work for such a great agency and how every day I can make a difference to our employees’ work environment.

Did you ever consider another profession and/or becoming a nurse?
A social worker has always been in the back of my mind. Not too long ago I wanted to become an Animal Control Officer. Now, I think about what it would be like to be a Hospice Nurse.

What do you love to do when you’re not working?
Anything with family and friends.

What is your hidden talent?
Not really a talent, but I love karaoke!

What would you do if you won the lottery?
I would buy a farm and help rehabilitate injured and abused animals.

Do you have a favorite RVNAhealth moment or story?
Not yet, but every day a new memory is created.

A Vital Part of Routine Healthcare

Health screenings – whether for heart disease, cholesterol, blood pressure, or cancer – are an accepted part of routine medical care, providing a quick and easy way to spot the first signs of serious illness. While people may not think twice about participating in such programs, many overlook the equally vital mental health screening.

Clinical depression is a common and treatable mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, and hopelessness. Homebound older adults, who are often socially isolated, have higher rates of depression than their more active peers. High rates of depression are also seen in those with illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s because of both the stress of the illness and the neurological impact of the disease. RVNAhealth clinicians are trained to recognize these symptoms in their Home Health and HomeCare clients and can help them seek treatment if necessary.

National Depression Screening Day is Thursday, October 11. The day exists to raise awareness about the importance of mental health intervention and free, anonymous screenings for depression are provided at hospitals, clinics, and community organizations across the country. While people may dismiss depression as a “normal part of life,” it’s more serious than occasional sadness and requires professional intervention. Screenings are an easy first step to getting help.

RVNA encourages all members of the community to take an active role in their mental health. Like screenings for other illnesses, depression screenings should be a routine part of everyone’s healthcare and can help save lives. For more information or to take an online screening, visit mentalhealthscreening.org.

Many thanks to Dr. Steven Phillips (here with a former patient) for sharing two hours of very valuable information on Lyme disease to a rapt audience at RVNAhealth last Thursday, September 20.  Attendees travelled from as far as Northern New Jersey, Long Island, and even Germany to hear and meet Dr. Phillips at Lyme: News You Need to Know.*

Dr. Phillips, a noted tick-borne illnesses expert (i.e. rock star), has practiced in the field for decades and is currently conducting promising research and study. In addition to providing clinical insights and pragmatic direction, Dr. Phillips offered many instances of wisdom and humor. One of our favorite quotes: “Sometimes you have to forget everything you learned to find something novel.”

Thank you, Dr. Phillips, for your brilliance and hope and thank you to Karen Gaudian. Lyme Connection, and the Town of Ridgefield for partnering on this important event.

*Note:  Our German guest was in the area for only two days, seeking treatment for Lyme Disease. She had arrived the day prior and was leaving the day after, and felt truly fortunate to coincide with Dr. Phillips’ Lyme presentation. He is world renowned.

It’s good to be Yhon Zuluaga.  Because wherever he goes, there he is.

And Yhon Zuluaga is very . . good . . company.

Just ask his colleagues, his patients, and the world he inhabits.  Yhon’s happiness, charm, and melody shine from within …. and make the world around him a happier place.

Read on.

Where did you grow up and where do you reside now?
I grew up in Medellin, Colombia.  I currently live in Danbury CT.

What brought you to RVNAhealth?
A friend of mine worked at RVNA and he told me how nice a company it was to work for.  And he was certainly right.

What is your role at RVNAhealth?
I work as a home health aide.

How long have you worked at RVNAhealth?
I have been working at RVNAhealth for 10 years.

What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is seeing a client improve and me being part of it, and also helping them with their ADL (activities of daily living). This means a lot to me.

Did you ever consider a field other than healthcare?
No.  I always knew I wanted a job where I helped people.  It’s very rewarding to me.

What do you love to do when you’re not working?
I love to travel. I just got back from Dublin, Ireland and I really had a great time.  I can’t wait to travel more.

What is your hidden talent?
I know how to dance salsa.  Dancing is a big part of Colombian life and I spent my childhood dancing.

What would you do if you won the lottery?
I would travel the world and open an animal sanctuary for animals in need.

Do you have a favorite RVNAhealth moment or story?
It’s a special moment every time I return from vacation and my clients tell me how much they missed me.  I really feel that I am making a difference in their life.

Chances are you’ve been cautioned about “text neck,” a relatively recent condition that refers to pain in the neck caused by straining to see a small, hand-held device.  But your cell phone isn’t the only culprit.  And “text neck” isn’t new.  It’s just a catchy name for an old problem: neck strain due to poor posture.

And while it’s now impacting people at much younger ages, it’s been going on for centuries.

In “proper posture,” the head is held over the shoulders in a neutral position. Looking down with your neck extended for long periods of time puts extra stress on the cervical spine. The more you do this, the weaker your neck muscles become.  And weakness begets pain.

The solution?  Proper posture! Head held over shoulders in a neutral position. The key to good posture is strengthening the muscles of your upper back (the trapezius, rhomboids, and cervical extensors) and stretching the opposing muscles of the chest to counteract a forward-leaning tendency.

It sounds complicated, but it’s not. In fact, the following simple exercises, done regularly at home, work, or wherever you are, will make a big difference.

• Chin tucks: gently retract or move the head backward while keeping your chin parallel to the earth. Hold for five seconds. Repeat 10 times.
• Shoulder blade squeezes: squeeze shoulder blades together to “un-hunch” your posture. Hold for five breaths, release.
• “Doorway Stretch”: Lean forward while bracing your arms against a door frame.

Additionally, simple awareness – being mindful of how you’re positioning your body throughout the day – can go a long way toward alleviating discomfort and pain in your neck.